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Questions versus Chemistry
What thoughts jump into your head when you hear the word chemistry? It is difficult to understand why chemistry causes us to feel pain and suffering! It's a complicated, confusing, and challenging subject.
The definition of chemistry is the study of matter. But what if we say it is the study of the change of matter known in alchemy as the art of transmutation? Changing the matter from one state to another through chemical reactions is like listening to the symphony of life created by tone fluctuations.
How does one understand the art of chemistry? The answer is to ask questions. When we were kids, we asked many questions to understand the world we live. Our ability to ask just faded away for no reason, which means our curiosity disappeared when raising and accessing the ordinary living system. Now, how do we return and ask the right questions to figure out the answers? How, what, and why are the powerful tools used to solve problems and find opportunities.
Moreover, what if we called the science of chemistry the language of chemistry? Studying this field is just like learning a new language, and what a unique language! It calls for learning new vocabulary, numbers, symbols, grammar, etc. For example, the word "atom" divides into two parts: "a-" stands for "without," and "tomos" comes from the Greek root meaning "to slice."
Let's go back into history and ask what the word chemistry means. The etymology of the word chemistry comes from Greek. Chem or khem means "black," which refers to the dark soil next to the Nile River.
Question: Are we doing something incredible? Whether teaching, creating or inventing, the people who do chemistry do magic! If we listen to what non-scientists keep telling us, it's not essential because they don't understand or care about chemistry. Do chemists themselves realize the treasure between their hands?
From the chemist's perspective, chemistry is a field concerned with the study of matter. To start with, we learn about the tiny building blocks of matter called atoms. However, these atoms are from the elements' identities. Each element has a specific number of subatomic particles; protons, neutrons, and electrons. The nucleus contains protons and neutrons, while the electrons move around it. The latter are lost, shared, and accepted by other molecules during chemical reactions following an octet rule based on an element's ability to drop or receive electrons to reach eight electrons in its valence shell, similar to noble gases.
Therefore, we call chemistry the science of communication! The atoms communicate by sharing, losing, or accepting electrons to generate reactions.
Are you still questioning to learn more? See the bright side and take another chance to see the beauty behind chemistry.
References:
1. J. Chem. Educ., 1930, 7, 652.
2. N. S. Sarma, J. Chem. Educ., 2004, 81, 1437.